MSC Armonia

Launched in 2001, MSC Armonia is the first of MSC Cruises Lirica-class ships, together with Opera, Sinfonia and Lirica.

History - construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. It was established in 1960. Today, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) - world's 2nd largest containership company. MSC Crociere is the world's largest privately-owned cruise company. By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC is ranked world's 4th largest cruise company (after Carnival Corporation, RCCL-Royal Caribbean and NCL-Norwegian) with over 5% global market share.

All 4 vessels of this class (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia) were enlarged / elongated by 24 m (80 ft), adding around 193 new cruise staterooms (including balconied), 59 more crew cabins, plus new public spaces, new kids facilities (with LEGO and Chicco themed activities), outdoor water park ("Spray Park" with interactive slides, jets and water toys).

The 58,625-ton, 1,566-passenger cruise ship MSC Armonia was built in 2001 in France. Her contemporary features and intimacy are in perfect harmony. The Armonia ship boasts many of other cruise liners’ characteristics, including four restaurants, six bars, Internet Cafe, a video arcade. 

Cruise itinerary program

MSC Armonia itinerary program is based on Caribbean cruises leaving roundtrip from homeports Havana Cuba, Cozumel Mexico and Miami Florida USA (since 2019).

• 7-day roundtrip from Havana, visiting Roatan (Honduras), Belize City (Belize), Costa Maya (Mexico), Isla de la Juventud (Cuba)
• 7-day roundtrip from Havana, visiting Montego Bay (Jamaica), George Town (Cayman Islands) and Cozumel (Mexico).

Both itineraries can be combined into B2B (14-day back-to-back cruise). In January 2016, MSC Cruises became industry's 1st global cruise line to homeport in Havana.

In December 2015, MSC Cruises announced it will further strengthen company's presence in Cuba by homeporting a second ship in Havana for winter 2016-2017 season. From November 2016, Armonia joined the fleetmate MSC Opera for the entire season. Armonia operated two separate 7-day itineraries, visiting Central America and Caribbean.

Starting December 2018, MSC Armonia added Miami to its list of homeports and to its 8-day Cuba itinerary (with 2 days in Havana / overnight stay). In Miami, Armonia joined the fleetmates MSC Divina and MSC Seaside (launched 2017).

Cabins

MSC Armonia has a total of 777 cabins (of which 132 Suites, no Balcony, 272 Inside rooms) in 6 grades. Most MSC Armonia staterooms are 140-sq.foot Oceanview rooms. The largest aboard MSC Armonia are the Balcony Suites (250 ft2).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

There are no dining surcharges onboard the MSC Armonia because there are no specialty restaurants on this ship. Armonia offers an abundance of Italian food, but the quality can vary. The Marco Polo Restaurant on Deck 5 is the larger of the two main dining rooms. It features tables for two to six diners. The casual buffet is located on Deck 11 and provides an alternative to the main dining rooms.

Follows the complete list of MSC Armonia restaurants and food bars.

• Marco Polo Restaurant (718-seat aft Dining Room, open for Breakfast 7:00-9:30 a.m., Lunch 12:00-2:00 p.m., and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings at 7:00 and 9:30p.m., features a 3-course menu for lunch, 7-course for dinner)
• La Pergola Restaurant (358-seat aft Dining Room, dinner only, with 2 fixed seatings)
• Il Girasole Restaurant (404-seats alfresco eatery with two sections - Pizzeria and Outdoor Grill)
• La Brasserie Restaurant (290-seat complimentary self-service buffet restaurant; also serving Afternoon Tea).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MSC Armonia ship’s special features include a casino, theater, disco and cabaret, library, and for those who love sports there is a fitness centre, simulation golf range, two outdoor swimming pools, jacuzzi and SPA. Don’t forget to pamper in the beauty salon. For kids a special playroom is provided. Additional amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of MSC Armonia lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Teatro La Fenice Theatre (557-seat, 2-level; features grand-style show productions and classical concerts, with 2 shows per night - at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.)
• The White Lion Pub (107-seats English pub bar)
• Armonia Atrium (2-deck high midship open area)
• Armonia@Cafe (Internet computers room and cyber cafe)
• Gallery (shop selling brand watches and jewelry); Jewelry Shop
• Via Della Spica (shopping alley with duty free shops); San Marco Shop
• Photo Gallery and Shop
• Cigar Room (10-seat smoking club lounge)
• Bar Del Duomo Lounge and Bar (239-seat cocktail bar; hosts bingo games, art auctions)
• The Red Bar (101-seat piano bar)
• Palm Beach Casino (105-seat, smoking allowed area, own full bar)
• Card Room and Library (41-seat double function room)
• Business Center (198-seat conference/meeting room and cinema)
• Caffe San Marco (100-seat specialty coffee bar, with complimentary cookies and pastries)
• Armonia Lounge (424-seat show lounge for live music performances; hosts dance classes and night cabaret shows)
• MSC Armonia Aurea Spa and Fitness Complex (with Treatment Rooms, Thalassotherapy Room, Saunas, Steam Room, Relaxation Room, Beauty Salon, Gym with aerobics studio for classes)
• 17 Nani Playroom (kids play area)
• Armonia’s Le Piscine Pool Area (with two twin salt water pools and two Whirlpools)
• Armonia Water Park with slide
• Il Lido Bar (with 3 sections - Main, La Gelateria Bar and Vitamin Bar)
• Teen Club (teenagers lounge for night disco, dance classes, sports-video games contests)
• Star Galaxy Video Games Arcade (tennis and foosball tables)
• Starlight Disco and Nightclub (215-seat, with own full bar)
• Sundeck with Solarium (adult-only relaxation area), Golf Simulator, 9-hole Mini Golf Course
• Sports Center (combined sports court - Shuffleboard, volleyball, basketball, tennis, mini football)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track.

Armonia cruise ship was built as "European Vision" for Festival Cruises (2001-2004). Armonia is MSC's 1st Lirica-class vessel (in the fleet since 2004) with sisterships Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia.

In 2014, the Armonia ship was stretched (elongated by 25 m / 82 ft) in) during a drydock refit done at Fincantieri shipyard Palermo Sicily (between August 31 and November 17). During the dry-dock, the ship was cut in two and a pre-built section was inserted midship.  The ship's reconstruction project was part of MSC Cruises' USD 273 million "Renaissance Program", by which besides Armonia were also enlarged MSC Lirica, MSC Opera and MSC Sinfonia. Among the newly added amenities and improvements were also nearly 200  new staterooms added on each ship.

Cuba cruise itineraries 2016-2017-2019

In December 2015, MSC Cruises announced that during winter 2016-2017 season, Armonia ship's itinerary program will include two 7-day cruises to Cuba with overnight stays in Havana. The itineraries also includedf the Caribbean ports Costa Maya, Roatan, Belize City, Grand Cayman and Montego Bay (Jamaica). Another visited Cuban port was Isla de la Juventud.

Armonia became MSC's second ship (together with MSC Opera) with scheduled departures out of Cuba. MSC also offers Caribbean fly-cruise deals from Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Germany), also from Canada and South America (Brazil, Argentina).

Starting December 10, 2018, MSC Armonia cruises on 7-day Caribbean roundtrips (from homeport Miami) that visit Havana (overnight / 2-day port stay). Armonia's deployment is year-round. Itinerary's other call ports include Montego Bay, Georgetown and Cozumel, then Havana (Saturday arrival, Sunday departure), with only one seaday. Balcony cabin prices started at USD 1170 per person (twin-share rates). In Miami, Armonia joined the larger fleetmates Divina (2012-built) and Seaside (2017-built).